Investigation: Dr Zannos Grekos is under criminal investigation after two of his patients died from stem cell treatments

A doctor is in the middle of a homicide investigation after he performed controversial stem cell procedures that resulted in the deaths of a patient last week.

Dr Zannos Grekos, a cardiologist practicing in Bonita Springs, Florida, is undergoing a criminal investigation and could lose his medical license as well after it was suspended by the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday.

The second patient’s treatment was in direct violation of a restriction placed on him in February 2011.

The restriction came after Grekos performed an unlicensed stem cell treatment on a breast cancer patient in 2010.

She later died.

Richard Poling, a resident of
Newburgh, Indiana, died last week after a stem cell treatment. He was
being treated for pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis.

Share this article

‘He made it sound so good, he sucked everyone in,’ Ms Neuman told NBC 2. Sadly, Mr Neuman died several months after he began treatment.

In a 2009 interview with CNN, Grekos said the cells harvested, called ‘regenocytes,’ would help repair the body’s ailments, including lung and heart disease.

However, Dr Irving Weissman said ‘there is no such cell.’

Furthermore, there is no known cure for pulmonary hypertension, which causes abnormally high blood pressure in the lungs and forces the right side of the heart to work much faster than normal, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Investigators were at Grekos’ office Thursday to collect evidence.

Procedure: Grekos (centre) performs a procedure, apparently collecting stem cells to send them to a lab

Medical park: It says on on the door of Grekos' building that he specialises in 'regenocytes,' stem cell procedures

Mr Poling’s niece Jeananne Morris told WINK News that her uncle’s death came as a complete shock.

‘All of a sudden, I seem my uncle fine that day and then five hours later, he’s gone,’ she said.

DEBATE OVER STEM CELLS: MEDICAL PANACEA OR HOLY GRAIL?

Most scientists agree that stem cells – undeveloped cells that can later develop into more than 200 types of cells found in the adult human body – have enormous potential and could cure diseases like cancer or Alzheimer’s. However, research funded by tax payers has been banned since 1996, and the debate rages on in Congress. While cell-based therapies show promise in healing diseases, numerous technical hurdles remain.

She told the station that her uncle had few options. ‘He was desperate, he didn’t have much time to live.’

However, other patients of Grekos said they wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for him.

Barbara McKean told The News-Press in 2011 that she ‘would be dead’ if he didn’t try the experimental treatment for her obstructive pulmonary disease.